Flash and blast reducer



Sept. 7, R948. R. A. HEISING FLASH Am) BLAST REDUCER Filed Oct. 26, 1944 INVENTOR RAHE/S/NG ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNIT ED- STATES FATE F 2,448,593

FLASH- AND BLAST REDUCER Raymond A. Hei'sing, Summit, Ni J., assignor Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 26, 1944, Seri'alNo. 560,458'

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to firearms and more particularly to-the reduction of flash and muzzleblast.

The principal object of the invention is to reduce the flash and muzzle blast associated with the discharge of a firearm. Other objects are to improve the efliciency of a reducer for this purpose and provide for quick attachment anddetachment.

Whenavoidance of detection is a consideration it is of importance to reduce to a minimum not only the muzzle blast but also the flash which accompanies the discharge of a firearm. Also, it is desirable that the device for accomplishing this be adapted for quick attachment or detachment. Furthermore, the device should not interfere with the accuracy of fire.

In accordance with the present inventionthere is provided a device which is very effective both as" a silencer and as a flash reducer, does not interfere with the accuracy of fire, and is quickly attachable to, or detachable from, the muzzle of a standard firearm. The reducer comprises an inner chamber through which the bullet passes, an outer expansion chamber communicating with the inner chamber, and heat-absorbing material within one or both of the chambers. This material may comprise metallic elements having a large surface area such, for example, as baflles or screen. In order to prevent flashing at the breech an escape hole is provided in the outer wall of the expansion chamber. However, if silencing is of more importance than flashreduction this hole may be closed.

For maximum eflicien-cy the elements within the inner chamber should have as small clearanceas possible for the bullet. However, if the clearance is too small and if the reducer is not properly aligned with the bore of the barrel, the bullet may accidentally come into contact with the elements and be deflected, producing a poor dispersion pattern. To avoid this the clearance maybe increased toward the front end. If these elements are annular baffles. for example, the diameters of the holes therein may be progressively increased toward the front end of the chamber. Also, to improve the efiiciency, the forward bafiles are preferably more closely spaced than the others. For attaching the reducer firmly in position there may be provided a clamping device comprising a conical seat which fits the muzzle, a wedge which fits behind the forward sight, and a pivoted bar which is swung across the barrel of the firearm.

The invention will be more fully understood 21 I from the following detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar or corresponding parts and in which: v

Figs. 1' and 2 are; respectively, a top and a sideview, partly in section, of a flash and blast reducer in accordance with theinvention at tached to the muzzle of a firearm; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken, respectively, along the lines 3 3- and 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a flash and blast reducer W in accordance with the invention attached by means of a clamping device 'H to the muzzleof the barrel, l! of a firearm. The reducer I'llcomprises an inner chamber 14-, through which the bullet passes, and an outer expansion chamber 29, each containing heat-absorbing material" in the form of metallic elements having a large surf-ace area. The walls or the inner chamber 14 are formed by the metaltube l3; Within" the chamber M area number of annular metallic bafiles l8 transversely positioned throughout the" chamber, separated from each other by the metal spacing rings l1, andheld tightly in place by the annular threaded en'd piece" I8 which screws into the internally threaded end of the tube l3; The special annular element [9 at the rear end of the tube I3 is securely fastened to the tube l3 as, for example, by brazing.

Greater efficiency, for a given weight, is obtained' if the battles ['6 nearer the muzzle end of the chamber [4 are spaced more closely than those at the other end. Also, for maximum efiiciency the clearance for the bullet as it passes through the baffles l-G should be as small as 'pos' sible without allowing the bullet to touch the edge of the hole, which would deflect the bullet and interfere with the accuracy of fire. However, due to a possible slight misalignment of the silencer Hlwith the bore of the-barrel l2 and to other causes, such as the fiexural vibration of the barrel and the silencer, this minimum clearance cannot be maintained throughout the length of the chamber M. Therefore, the clearance is increased toward the front end of the chamber by progressively increasing the diameters of the holes in the baflles [6 to insure a safe clearance for the bullet during its passage through the silencer H].

To improve further the effectiveness of the reducer Ill an outer expansion chamber 20 is built around the inner tube l3. The outer Walls of the chamber 20 are constituted by the metal tube 2! and the flanged end pieces 22 and 23. The end pieces 22 and 23 are held tightly against the ends 3 of the tube 21 by means of the two rods 24, fit the inner tube l3 tightly, and may be brazed or otherwise secured thereto. A number of holes 26, through the inner tube l3 and the spacing rings I1, permit the powder gases to enter the expansion chamber 20. As shown, the holes 26 are arranged in four rows spaced at 90. degrees. They need extend for only half, or less, of the length of the chamber 20. The chamber 20 contains heat-absorbing material in the form of metal screen 21 wrapped around the tube l3. The eiilciency of the device, both in silencing and in flash reduction, increases as the amount of this material is increased. However, to save weight, the screen 27 does not entirely fill the chamber '20. It should, however, at least cover the holes 26 with several layers. The U-shaped piece 30 prevents the roll of screen 21 from'sliding forward on the tube l3. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view taken through the member 30, in the direction of the arrows. In order to prevent the gases from reentering the barrel l2, and possibly causing a flash at the breech, there is provided an escape hole 28 inthe outer wall of the chamber 20, preferably locatedat the front end. However, if good silencing action is considered to be of more importance than flash reduction the hole 28 may be c1osed,,as. by the screw 29. The chamber 210 may be eccentrically positioned about the inner tube I3, with the larger part underneath, in order to clear the line of sight.

The reducer. i0 is securely attached to the muzzle of the barrel I2 by means of the clamping device H which comprises a conical seat 31 formed in the element 19, a wedge 32, and a threepoint rear clamp 33. The seat 3| fits over the muzzle of the barrel i2 and is made conical so that it will accommodate variations in the outer diameter of the muzzle. The clamping device ll includes a U-shaped trough 34 which is a continuation of the tube 13 and extends below and along the sides of the barrel E2. The trough 34 may be formed by splitting the rear portion of the tube I3 along the top and spreading to form the sides. The wedge 32 slides through slots in the sides of the trough 34, over the upper side of the barrel I'L'and fits against the rear of the guards 36 which are associated with the forward sight 3?. Near the narrower end of the wedge 32 there is provided a pin 38 which will pass through a notch 35 in the upper edge of the adjacent slot, when the wedge is withdrawn past the sight guards 36, but will not pass through the other slot. This prevents the wedge 32 from being entirely withdrawn, with the possibility of being lost. After the wedge 32 has been pushed into position it is prevented from working loose by the spring 39 which swings on a pivot 40 and has a hole 4| fitting over a corner ofthe wedge. The rear clamp 33 makes three points of contact with the barrel [2, two provided by the screws 42 in the trough 34 and the third by the bar 43 which swings on the pivot 44 across the upper side of the barrel and is held in place by the wing nut 46. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the barrel [2 just at the rear of the clamping device I I in the direction indicated by the arrows.

It is seen that no modification of the standard barrel [2 is required for mounting the reducer H]. To remove the reducer it is onlynecessary to loosen the nut 46, swing the bar 43 around, lift and swing the spring 39 and partially withdraw the wedge 32.

What is claimed is:

A device for attaching a flash and blast reducer to the muzzle of a firearm having a fixed projection on the barrel thereof comprising a U- shaped trough attached to the rear end of the reducer and adapted to receive the barrel, a conical seat attached to the front end of said trough and adapted to fit over the muzzle, two opposed slots in the sides of said trough, a wedge adapted to extend through said slots and over the barrel back of the projection to hold said seat against the muzzle, means for holding said wedge securely in position, means for preventing the removal of.

REFERENCES CITED The following references file of this patent:

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